Chapter 19.20
APPLICATION CLASSIFICATION

Sections:

19.20.010    Permit application type.

19.20.020    Permit application classification.

19.20.030    Permits not listed.

19.20.040    Consolidation of permits and appeals.

19.20.010 Permit application type.

Land use and development decisions are divided into five processes based on the type of application, who makes the decision, the amount of discretion exercised by the decision maker, the level of impact associated with the decision, the amount and type of public input sought, and the type of appeal opportunity.

A.    A Type I application permit process is an administrative review and decision by the appropriate department head or designee. These are applications which are generally categorically exempt from review under State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) or permits for which environmental review has been completed in connection with another application, and which have limited or no public interest. A Type I application is subject to clear, objective and nondiscretionary standards or standards that require the exercise of professional judgment about technical issues.

B.    A Type II application permit process is an administrative review and decision by the appropriate department head or designee. A Type II application is subject to objective and subjective standards that require the exercise of limited discretion about nontechnical issues and about which there may be a limited public interest. Public notification is provided at the application and decision stages of review. Environmental review is conducted, when required.

C.    A Type III application permit process is a quasi-judicial review and decision made by the hearing examiner or, in the case of master plans, by the city council. A Type III application is subject to standards that may require the exercise of substantial discretion and about which there may be a broad public interest. Environmental review is conducted, when required. The appropriate review authority holds an open record public hearing after receiving a recommendation from the planning commission. Depending on the application, a neighborhood meeting may be required to obtain public input. Public notification is provided at the application, public hearing and decision stages of application review. The appropriate review authority makes a decision after considering the recommendation of the planning commission, the public testimony received at the open public hearing, and project file record.

D.    A Type IV application permit process is a legislative land use decision made by the city council under its authority to establish policies and regulations regarding future development and management of land. A Type IV application is the creation or amendment of land use policy or law by ordinance, or the land use designation and zoning of property on a map. Environmental review is conducted when required. The planning commission holds a public hearing and makes a recommendation to the city council. The city council holds a public hearing and makes the final decision.

E.    A Type V application permit process is a legislative land use decision made by the city council involving legislatively enacted, approved and valid concomitant agreements governing a specific property when it is in the best interest of the property owner and the city to release or modify the property from the conditions imposed by the concomitant agreement. The city council holds a public hearing and makes the final decision. (Ord. 2016-05 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2016)

19.20.020 Permit application classification.

The following table sets forth the various applications required and classifies each application by the process used to review and the review authority who will decide the application.

Table 19.20.020 Permit, Process and Review Authority Classification 

Permit Type

Process Type

Review Authority

Accessory dwelling unit

I

PD

Accessory dwelling unit, w/administrative conditional use permit

II

PD

Administrative interpretation/determination, written

(including but not limited to: similar use determination; code/map interpretations; landscape plan review/approval; family day care home; etc.)

I

PD

Administrative modification

I/II

PD

Annexation

Exempt

CC/BRB

Appeals

 

 

Type I and II permit decisions

 

HE

Type III permit decisions

 

CC

Type IV

 

GMHB

Type V

 

Kitsap County Superior Court

Binding site plan

II

PD

Binding site plan modification

I

PD

Boundary line adjustment

I

PD

Building permit

Exempt

BO

Comprehensive plan map, policy or text amendment

IV

CC

Concomitant agreements, release

 

 

Fulfilled, all conditions met, no longer valid

I

PD

Approved administratively or by city council not for rezone

II

PD

Approved for rezone by city council

V

CC

Construction/engineering drawing review

Exempt

CE

Conditional use permit

III

HE

Conditional use permit, administrative

II

PD

Construction standards

IV

CC

Critical area exemption

I

PD

Critical area permit

II

PD

Design review

 

 

With underlying land use application

Underlying application

Underlying application

With building permit only

I

PD

Development agreements

Exempt

CC

Development regulations

IV

CC

Final plat

 

 

Final PRD site development plan

 

 

Final PMUD site development plan

Exempt

CC

Grading permit

I/II

CE

Home business

Exempt

City clerk business license only

Home occupation

II

PD

Master plan, including establishment of map overlay (which requires a zoning map amendment), amendments to existing master plan, and/or release of an existing master plan

III

CC

Preliminary subdivision/plat

III

HE

Preliminary subdivision/plat modifications

II

PD/CE

Planned residential development (PRD)

III

HE

Planned mixed use development (PMUD)

III

HE

Plat alterations and vacation

Exempt

CC

Post decision modifications

I or II

PD

Public agency and utility exception

(critical areas ordinance)

III

HE

Right-of-way permit

Exempt

CE

Reasonable accommodations

(zoning ordinance)

Exempt

PD

Reasonable use exception

(critical areas ordinance)

III

HE

SEPA threshold determination, stand alone, not associated with other land use permit; subject to SEPA notification requirements

I

PD

Shoreline conditional use permit

III

HE

Shoreline conditional use permit, minor

II

PD

Shoreline exemption

I

PD

Shoreline master program

IV

CC

Shoreline substantial development permit

III

HE

Shoreline substantial development permit, minor

II

PD

Shoreline variance

III

HE

Short subdivision/plat

II

PD

Short subdivision/plat modifications

I

PD/CE

Short subdivision/plat, final

Exempt

CE

Sign permit

Exempt

BO/PD

Site plan review

II

PD

Site plan review, minor

I

PD

Street vacations

Exempt

CC

Temporary use permit

I

PD

Tree cutting and clearing permit

I

PD

Variance

III

HE

Zoning map amendment—Zoning map only, when consistent with comprehensive plan and an amendment to the comprehensive plan is not necessary

III

HE

Zoning map amendment—When associated with a master plan overlay designation, and consistent with comprehensive plan and an amendment to the comprehensive plan is not necessary

III

CC

Zoning map amendment—Area wide, city wide, or site specific when requiring a comprehensive plan amendment

IV

CC

Zoning code amendment—Text

IV

CC

PD: Planning Director; CE: City Engineer; PD/CE: Both Planning Director and City Engineering; BO: Building Official; BO/PD: Both Building Official and Planning Director; HE: Hearing Examiner; CC: City Council; BRB: Boundary Review Board; GMHB: Growth Management Hearings Board

Note: An exempt status in Table 19.20.020 indicates exemption from the procedural requirements of this title, and does not indicate exemption from other city-required permits.

(Ord. 2020-10 § 2 (Exh. A § 18), 2020: Ord. 2016-05 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2016)

19.20.030 Permits not listed.

If a permit or land use action is not listed in Table 19.20.020, the planning director shall make a determination as to the appropriate review procedure based on the most analogous permit or land use action listed. (Ord. 2016-05 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2016)

19.20.040 Consolidation of permits and appeals.

A.    Where more than one land use permit for a given development is required, all permit applications (except Type I applications) may be submitted for review collectively according to the consolidated review process established by this section.

B.    Where two or more land use applications for a given development are submitted for consolidated review, the review shall be conducted using the highest numbered process type applicable to any of the land use applications; provided, that each land use application shall only be subject to the relevant decision criteria applicable to that particular development application. For example, a development proposal that includes a Type II application and a Type III application shall be reviewed using the Type III process, but the Type II application shall be decided based on the relevant decision criteria applicable to the Type II application.

C.    When the consolidated process established by this section is used, the city shall issue single, consolidated notices, staff reports, and decision documents encompassing all of the land use applications under review. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, the applications shall be considered in a single, consolidated open record public hearing when applicable, and shall be subject to no more than one consolidated closed record appeal.

D.    Where a development requires more than one land use permit but the applicant elects not to submit all applications for consolidated review, applications may be submitted and processed sequentially; provided, that the permit subject to the highest numbered process type must be submitted and obtained first, followed by the other permits in sequence from the highest numbered type to the lowest.

E.    Where a development proposal requires a comprehensive plan and/or zoning map amendment, the map amendments must be considered and approved by the city council before any hearing is held or decision is made on any relevant application for conditional use permit, subdivision, planned residential development, variance, master planned development, site plan, or other similar quasi-judicial or administrative action. This subsection is intended to be a “procedural requirement” applicable to such actions as contemplated by RCW 58.71.070.

F.    All appeals of project permit decisions for single project shall be consolidated and heard together in a single appeal, except for appeals of SEPA determinations of significance. Where a determination of significance (DS) is appealed, the appeal shall be heard by the hearing examiner prior to any consideration of the underlying application. Where a determination of nonsignificance (DNS) or the adequacy of an environmental impact statement (EIS) is appealed, the hearing on the appeal shall be consolidated with any open record public hearing to be conducted on the underlying application. (Ord. 2016-05 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2016)